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Monday, April 11, 2011

Data speed comparison between Docomo and Softbank

Posted by
SBS

I found on Nikkei Trendy a comparison of prices and speeds for iPhones on Docomo and Softbank. This will also apply to Android handsets. The results can be summed up in one word: "twice." In Tokyo, downlink speeds were typically twice as fast with Docomo, but the cost of service is twice as expensive.

However, in the Shonan area, along the Tokaido Line, the difference was much less. For most people, it will be difficult to justify the price of service with Docomo. It could make sense for people suffering network congestion issues in urban areas or no service in rural ares, since both the iPhone 4 and 3GS are compatible with the 800 MHz FOMA Plus Area. For everyone in between, there doesn't seem to be any compelling reason to switch, especially since you'll lose some functionality like visual voicemail, MMS, and carrier mail, as well as potentially experience less accurate cell tower location information.

First, a comparison of costs and features. The article did not properly compare uplink speeds because they compared a 3GS to an iPhone 4. The former lacks HSUPA and is limited to 384 kbps, while the latter if used on Docomo would have a theoretical maximum uplink of 5.7 Mbps (in Tokyo and other limited areas) [NOTE: 5.7 Mbps uploads are currently suspended in Kanto-Tohoku]. It seems the reason for this was the relatively lower cost of an iPhone 3GS.

Softbank

NTT Docomo

JCI B-Mobile

Handset

Locked iPhone 4

Unlocked iPhone 3GS

Unlocked iPhone 3GS

Unlocked iPhone 3GS

Voice Plan

White Plan (i)

Type SS - LL value

None

talkingSIM

Data Plan

Unlimited Packet Flat

Packet Houdai Double

Flat Data Plan

Expected Monthly Cost*

¥5705

¥11690

¥6510

¥3960

Data Speed**

Down: 7.2 Mbps (HSDPA) UP: 1.4 Mbps (HSUPA)

Down: 7.2 Mbps (HSDPA) Up: 384 Kbps

Down: 7.2 Mbps (HSDPA) UP: 384 Kbps

300 Kbps symmetrical

Voice Capable

○

○

×

○

Visual Voice Mail

○

×

×

×

SMS

○

○

○

○

MMS

○

×

×

×

Carrier Email

○

×

×

×

Tethering

×

○

○

○

* Lowest price for voice plus flat rate data and standard options
** Difference in uplink speed is due to different hardware used in the test. Docomo max uplink is 5.7 Mbps.

The article also used the speedtest.net app to compare speeds in several areas around Tokyo and found in general better penetration underground and differences in crowded areas or on moving trains, especially during peak times. (Softbank is well known to have bandwidth issues during peak hours). It should be noted that, even though there were large gaps in performance, these were often not perceptible. Indeed, there will be no difference when receiving a text email with an uplink of ~ 300 Kbps versus ~ 750. Uploading a 5 megapixel image from Shibuya crossing at 1 pm would be frustrating, though.

Softbank

NTT Docomo

iPhone 4

Unlocked iPhone 3GS

Location

Downlink

Uplink

Downlink

Uplink

Shinjuku Station
(weekday 6 am)

2501

1231

3535

356

Shinjuku Station
(weekday 7 pm)

287

231

768

114

Shibuya
(weekday 1 pm)

25

1119

919

202

Shimbashi
(Sunday 8 pm）

701

236

1443

322

Tokyo - Shinjuku
(Weekday 6 pm)

78

47

597

187

Shinjuku - Shinagawa
(weekday 6 am)

2602

1253

3150

320

Bandwidth in Kbps. Speed is the average of 5 successful tests using the speedtest.net app.

Outside of Tokyo is a different story altogether. There were very little differences, and at times Softbank was faster. Below are the results of testing on the platforms of different Tokaido Line stations. Each test was performed only once.

Another factor which is important to me is how often my phone doesn't have any connection at all. On Softbank this used to happen to me on elevators, in underground restaurants, behind thick walls, and in mountain areas. In many of these places I now have a reliable connection on Docomo.

It should have been mentioned, that Softbank allows to reduce the cost considerably, compared to the one listed in the table.

I use "White plan + Double White plan (980円 each)", data plan "パケットし放題Ｓ" which starts from 375円, climbs up at 0.084円/packet and flats out at some point around 5000円. Voice, SMS/MMS, tethering are included. It's possible to ditch "Double White plan" to bring "expected monthly cost" to as little as 1355円 (no phone calls and zero data).

It could be mentioned that all carriers offer data plans that scale with usage and it is possible to pay much less each month if you don't use the phone at all, but, since the existence of these plans is common knowledge and this type of usage is completely unrealistic, I didn't see the need.

Yes, the cost of setting your phone aside is cheaper than early termination, but typical usage of a smartphone for just one day is enough to reach the maximum data cost, so you will always see potential costs presented as in the table when reading Japanese because this is how 99.99% of people actually use their phones.